Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football with 146 goals for Portugal
The 41-year-old ends his career as the highest scorer and most-capped player in men's international football history.
Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football with Portugal in a video posted to his official X account on Thursday, November 5. The 41-year-old ends his career with 146 goals in 234 appearances, setting world records for both goals and caps in men's international football, according to reports by Mint and Bhaskar English.
In the five-minute video, Ronaldo stated that the day had come for him to hand back the number 7 shirt of the national team. He noted that his journey, which began in August 2003, has come to an end. The caption of his post read, “Portugal estará sempre em mim” (“Portugal will always be in me”).
Ronaldo captained Portugal to three senior titles, including the 2016 European Championship and the UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. He also featured in six World Cups, becoming the first player to score in six different editions of the tournament after netting against Uzbekistan in 2026.
The announcement follows a period of uncertainty after Ronaldo left the Portugal Nations League camp in Copenhagen on September 30. Following an argument with head coach Jorge Jesus, he had previously insisted in a statement that he was not retiring and remained available to play.
Ronaldo will continue playing for his club, Al-Nassr, in Saudi Arabia. He has scored 985 career goals in 1,343 senior appearances for club and country, leaving him 15 goals away from the 1,000-goal milestone.
Portugal have already qualified for the Nations League quarterfinals. The side led by Jorge Jesus is scheduled to host Denmark on November 14 and travel to Wales three days later.
